Bay Meadows

Question. What could a stylish iPad case, a lunar lander and a polymer baby blanket possibly have in common? Or better yet – Where could a 12 year-old kid sit next to a venture capitalist or astronauts and maybe even President Obama?

Answer: TechShop. A community workshop for sharing cutting-edge industrial equipment, TechShop helps makers manufacture world-changing products.

And this “hackerspace for hardware” recently opened in San Mateo County at 345 Shoreway Road San Carlos. Founder Jim Newton says TechShop gives anyone “access to the tools of innovation. TechShop helps rekindle that instinctive drive to create … returns us to being makers.”

Membership gives makers access to over a million dollars worth of equipment – from plasma cutters and 3-D printers to high-tech sewing machines. TechShop retains and maintains state of the art gear and its master maker staff provides guidance and support.

TechShop has been particularly popular in the tech/start-up scene. One of TechShop’s famous success stories is the development of the Square payments credit card reader. After months of using TechShop’s industrials tools, Square had its revolutionary dongle prototype. It’s a story that Jim Newton recounts like a proud parent.

With its new San Carlos location, TechShop will be nearby exciting start-up scenes such as the next gen innovators at San Mateo’s Draper University. And, while tech entrepreneurs can be secretive about their products, Founder Newton says that developing at TechShop makes for a better product, with the opportunity for input from some of the country’s brightest inventors.

Even President Obama is on-board. In June, Obama chose TechShop Pittsburgh as his site as part of the administration’s “Make It in America” initiative.

Why not snap a selfie with your latest invention? As we develop community, we want to see how you live or play at Bay Meadows. Share your fun lifestyle photos with our community by using #baymeadowslife in our Fame x Frame Photo Contest. You could WIN $50 or our Grand Prize of $500 at the end of 2014 and be featured in a live pop-up photo gallery exhibit. Click here for official rules. Each month, Bay Meadows will select one photo to WIN a $50 gift card at Whole Foods Market San Mateo. Simply hop on instagram or twitter at tag us using #baymeadowslife or submit up to 10 photos per month to photos@BayMeadows.com .

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